The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

When the exclusive life of blonde and beautiful Taylor Young starts to fall apart, her real character, forged by a tough childhood, comes out.

Taylor, her husband Nathan and their three perfect daughters occupy an upper-crust world. Among the perks for Taylor: lavish fashions (including $200 bras), sunny vacations and a Finnish nanny. But the pressure to stay on top in exclusive Bellevue, Wash., is almost too much. Between Taylor’s exercise classes, manicures, pedicures and a volunteer schedule that rivals a full-time job, she barely has a moment to relax poolside with a gin and tonic, not to mention keep up with her competitive book group. So when Nathan starts acting odd, disappearing for days on a business trip, she begins to worry. Could her perfect marriage, which rescued her from a working-class background, be going the way of her friend Lucy’s, broken up by an affair? The truth, when it comes out, is worse. Her billionaire husband has been fired, and he has been hiding the fact, letting compulsive-shopper Taylor ring up bills they can no longer afford. When Nathan attempts to move the family to Omaha, where he has found a job, Taylor refuses to go, trying to keep her place in a world she can no longer afford. Ultimately, she must choose between her family and her luxuries. The witty first-person narration keeps things lively in Potter’s latest (Odd Mom Out, 2007, etc.). Taylor’s neurotic fussiness provides both vicarious thrills and laughs before Taylor moves on to self awareness and a new kind of empowerment.

The glittery high-end fantasy is delivered with enough humor to leaven the silliness, making this a feel-good read.

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